It's A Bonny Old Life

In this episode of It's a Bonny Old Life Bonny visits Ian Peacock, the Ripon-based Picture Framer extraordinaire who framed some of her very first pet portraits and has supported and advised her on her journey as a professional artist ever since. Ian shares some fascinating stories about how he came to be the chosen Framer for art by some of the greatest artists in the world (dead and alive!) think Turner, Banksy, Andy Warhol, Picasso (and, of course, our very own Bonny Snowdon!). But it could have been very different as Ian actually started out his career training to be an Engineer for the railways like generations of the men in his family before him. Engineering had been the long term plan until he fell (by accident) into working as a weekend Wedding Photographer and then by chance discovered his passion for framing and eventually took the brave decision as a young man back in 1986, to start his own North Yorkshire based picture framing business. The rest, as they say, is (art) history! Such a fun, inspiring and fascinating interview. You can listen here or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. As ever, if you enjoy this podcast please do share with others who you think may benefit from hearing it too.  With us being in his workshop, in a carpet shop there are a couple of times where there's some background noise, but don't let it put you off as he's a fascinating man :)

In this special bonus episode, Bonny talks to David Fox-Pitt as he works with Siobhans Trust to feed refugees on the border in Ukraine. David has been there for 35 days helping those in need as they come through in their thousands. David has volunteers from all over the world helping him make food, tea and coffee for the refugees as they come through border control. It's incredibly cold, particularly at night, and the conditions are awful. David shares details of the work they are doing, the trust that has made their efforts possible, and lets us know what we can do to help. The episode has not been edited in order to show the true reality of life on the Ukraine border. To find out more about what you can do, and to donate to this incredibly important cause, head to the Siobhans Trust website here. You can find out more about David Fox-Pitt and the works he's done to support causes worldwide on his website here. Please help to raise awareness for this incredibly important cause by sharing this episode with your friends and family, and spread the word far and wide to make sure that this important topic and the people struggling are not forgotten. 

In this special episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny celebrates the reopening of her online teaching platform, the Academy, with a few kind words from a handful of her members. Bonny hears from Judy, who started drawing at 71 after retiring. She talks about the fear of starting something new at a later stage in life, and tells us how she broke through barriers, improved her skills and gained confidence. Today, she takes on commissioned pieces, and Bonny has one of her drawings proudly on display in her own home! We also hear from Karen, who struggled with her confidence so much when joining Bonny’s live sessions, that she didn’t dare turn her camera on in Zoom! Bonny explains how she slowly started to feel more comfortable and at ease in the Academy, and Karen shares how proud she is of the work she’s doing now, how much her confidence has grown in her daily life, and how it’s even helped lower her stress levels and improve her health! Other members of the Academy also make an appearance, sharing their experience, their stories, and the reasons why they love being a member of Bonny’s community. Plus, Bonny explains what new members can expect from the Academy when they join, including her Coloured Pencil Foundations Course, a collection of regular live sessions and hundreds of realtime tutorials, personalised critiques and the support of an amazing community of coloured pencil artists.

In this episode, Bonny sits down with Ubermummies founder, Alex Smallman, and talks about the similarities between their two very different businesses. Alex shares the story of how the Ubermummies business grew from her previous career as a personal trainer, and how the business changed during lockdown and made the move from in-person workout sessions to finding a new home online. Bonny and Alex talk about their shared passion for helping and encouraging others, and how lifting people up and showing them that they can do anything they set their mind to is at the heart of both businesses. They also talk about the importance of being kind to yourself, making time to do the things that make you happy, and Alex shares her three reasons why we should all remember to love ourselves and give ourselves the time we deserve. Listen to the podcast on this page or click on the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. To find out more about Alex and Ubermummies, click here to head to her website. You can also follow her on social media. Find her on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by an incredible member of her Academy community, photography expert, workshop leader, coach (and much more!), Ruth Hoyt. Ruth shares the story of how she found her interest in photography by chance, and how exploring that interest led her to become a full-time nature photographer and photography coach to people of all ages, who is never seen without a camera in her hands. She shares her stories of photographing birds and other animals, the unexpected surprises she’s encountered on photo shoots, and the joy that photography brings to her daily life. She also shares the four things she encourages others to look for when choosing photos to enter into competitions. The passion she has for her art form is inspiring and, no doubt, by the end of this episode, you’ll find yourself reaching for your camera and heading out to take some photos! Listen to the podcast on this page or click on the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. To find out more about Ruth Hoyt and view some of her fabulous photographs, click here to head to her website. You can also find her on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this episode, Bonny is joined by the inspiring pet portrait artist, author of Art Is My Career, and new mum, Sema Martin.  Sema talks us through her lifelong love of drawing, explains why she decided to study aerospace engineering after leaving school, and how it led her onto working for Nasa for 3 exciting months. She also explains what prompted her to leave the world of engineering and branch out as a full-time pet portrait artist.  Bonny and Sema discuss the freedom that running your own business has brought them, debunk the starving artist myth, and talk business, marketing and the benefit of delegating work where you can.  Sema also shares what life is like as a working mum after welcoming her daughter into the world four months ago, how being a new mum has changed the nature of her business, and how she hopes to be a role model and inspiration to her daughter when she grows up.  Plus, Sema shares her thoughts on finding your own style as an artist, the benefit of realising there is no right or wrong way to draw, and she even shares her tips for drawing beautifully white whiskers!  Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you'd like to find out more about Sema Martin, head to her website here, follow her on Facebook here, and find her on Instagram here.  To buy a copy of Sema's book, Art Is My Career, click here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by author, artist, mum, and fellow Yorkshire lass, Gem Stone. Gem talks about how her love of art and all things creative started from a young age and shares the reasons why she chose to study photography instead of turning in another direction. She talks about working as a photographer, beginning in a studio, then working for herself for over ten years, all the while thinking that she needed to get back to drawing. She talks about the fear she had after not drawing for such a long time, and how she worried that, after such a long break, she would have lost her artistic abilities. She also explains why she describes herself as a “fickle artist”, and talks about the many different mediums she loves to try her hand at. Gem shares details of how her book, The Crystal Kids, came to be and talks about the process of drawing the illustrations, creating her own font, and publishing the book. She also talks about the unexpected environmental impact that publishing a book can have, and explains the ways in which she has tried to make her book as environmentally friendly as possible. Plus, she gives us an idea of what we can expect from her in the future, including amazing plans for her YouTube channel and the next book she’s busy dreaming up! Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to find out more about Gem Stone, head to her website here, find her Gem Stone Creates profile on Instagram here and her Yorkshire Mermaid profile here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down with the incredible wildlife photographer, Tazi Brown.  Tazi shares the story of her journey to becoming a wildlife photographer, telling us how she took up photography at a young age and found an interest in photographing flowers on a family holiday, before finding a strong passion for wildlife photography whilst on a trip to Tanzania in 2012.  She always tells us about the accident that left her with post-concussion syndrome and shares how it has affected her daily life and ability to take photos. She also talks about her inspiring approach to life after the accident, and explains how she has made changes to continue doing what she loves. Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to find out more about Tazi Brown, head to her website here, follow her on Instagram here and find her on Facebook here. 

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by the fabulous oil painter, Jean Pritchard, who specialises in wildlife art and teaches other artists how to paint.  In the episode, Jean talks about how she started out as a watercolour artist, before going on to study at art college. She talks about the enjoyment she got from studying art, and how she progressed from watercolours to oil paints.  She shares details of how lockdown changed the nature of her business and how it forced her to move outside of her comfort zone and push herself to try something different. Bonny and Jean also talk about the trial-and-error approach they both took when they started teaching, and mention the hoards of equipment they went through in search of the right cameras, tripods and more!  They talk about embracing who they are and how it has helped them get more out of everyday life. They discuss the criticism they have both faced in the past and share how they deal with it now, and why they encourage others to be kind on social media.  Bonny shares her thoughts on the benefits of relinquishing control in your business and delegating work in order to continue growing. She also mentions the coaching course she has enrolled in and how she plans to incorporate it into the Academy. Plus, she hints at the big project she’s currently working on and shares details of the work going into it.  They also discuss the joy of being able to teach students from all ends of the world and the communities they have been able to build.  Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to find out more about Jean Pritchard, head to her website here, follow her on Instagram here, find her on Facebook here, and find her on her TikTok here. 

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down with the incredibly talented equine artist, Victoria Scotti.  Victoria talks about life with her family in Valencia and shares details of her time in New York while studying art therapy and completing her PhD.  Bonny shares her admiration for Victoria’s sketchbook series and Victoria goes into detail about how they began as a simple Summer project whilst on holiday in Estonia. She explains how she used the drawings to develop ideas without feeling the pressure of finishing a piece.  Victoria also talks about where her love of horses came from and explains the out-of-the-blue reason that led her to believe that becoming an equine artist was what she was meant to do. Bonny and Victoria discuss their shared belief that everything happens for a reason and share the reasons why they think other people should listen to what the universe is telling them.  Victoria shares details of the art therapy work she still does and talks about her belief that everything an artist draws is an exploration of themself and the importance of figuring out what your artwork says about you.  She explains how she approaches a new piece and how she chooses a medium based on each specific horse. She also talks about the value of doing what you love and finding time for yourself.  Bonny talks about her plans for freeing up more time for herself in the future by creating some shorter, in-depth tutorials for her students. They also talk about the challenges of drawing specific furs and colours, and they discuss their unique approaches to drawing.  Victoria also shares some things artists can take into consideration to reduce stress and frustration and get more enjoyment out of the drawings they take on.  If you’d like to find out more about Victoria Scotti, head to her website here, follow her on Instagram here and find her on Facebook here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by the award-winning pet portrait and wildlife artist, Alex Fleming, who she had the pleasure of coaching briefly in 2020. Bonny shares her admiration for Alex’s work and the unique way he puts himself across on social media. Alex explains why he posts the things he does, how he tries to avoid coming across as “salesy” and why he prefers to put his faith in “bricks and mortar”, relying on galleries and exhibitions over social media. They talk about their family life, with Alex sharing that he cares for his father part-time, which was one of the factors that initially encouraged him to leave his previous job as a postman and take up art full-time. Bonny talks about her children and how proud she is of them and how they have dealt with the difficult death of their father. They discuss the importance of caring for your family and the people that you love, as well as the strength you gain from being helped by them in return. Bonny and Alex discuss their different approaches to drawing and business, and Alex explains why he likes to avoid a rigid business model. They talk about teaching and Bonny shares details of her teaching style and explains why she decided tointroduce her own teaching platform, the Bonny Snowdon Academy. They talk about the benefit of having people around you when you spend a lot of time alone drawing and Bonny talks about her team and how they help her daily. And, of course, they talk about their artwork, the different approaches they have to draw, and the sense of fulfilment that completing a piece brings. To find out more about Alex Fleming and to view his artwork, head to his website here, follow him on Instagram here and find him on Facebook here.

In this week’s episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by Hela Wozniak-Kay, the co-founder of Sister Snog, the networking community for women in business. Hela explains why she dislikes the word “networking” and gives an insight into the connections, bridges and collaborations that are built through Sister Snog. Bonny and Hela discuss discovering their talent and figuring out how to turn that talent into a business. They talk about the importance of believing in yourself and not limiting yourself by doubting your abilities. They share their thoughts on creativity in all its forms and Bonny explains where she thinks her creativity came from. Plus, they go into detail about why they believe that meeting and engaging with other, like-minded people is so important, and how it can help you in all aspects of life. To find out more about Hela, you can follow her on Instagram here. To learn more about Sister Snog, find the website here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by the wildlife, pet and equine artist, Julie Burdon-Stone. In the episode, Julie talks about her lifelong desire to become an artist and explains how life originally led her down a different path. She shares details about the work she does as a senior manager at an animal charity outside, and how she fits painting into her day. Bonny and Julie discuss social media and the ways in which it has made advertising their businesses easier. They discuss how understanding themselves has helped them to communicate and speak about their businesses online, while also talking about the risks that come with social media. They share their thoughts on the importance of setting boundaries, learning how to say no and not letting people take advantage of your better nature. They also discuss Patreon, and Bonny gives an honest opinion on how she believes it can hinder artists instead of helping them. To find out more about Julie Burdon-Stone, visit her website here, find her on Facebook here, and on Instagram here. 

In this week’s episode, Bonny sits down with money mentor and author, Denise Duffield-Thomas. In the episode, Denise shares details of how she got into her line of work, explaining how her own issues with money and an interest in the law of attraction encouraged her to help other people who were struggling with similar situations. She talks about her new book, Chill and Prosper, and mentions how it came about after the pandemic made changes to the way we live and work. Bonny and Denise discuss different types of coaching, and Denise shares her experiences with and thoughts on each of them. Denise also talks about the moments in her life that prompted her to look inward and make changes. They also discuss their money troubles over the years, giving details of the different situations they have both been in, and Denise shares her thoughts on how your family’s approach to money while you were growing up can impact your own later in life. To find out more about Denise Duffield-Thomas, visit her website here, find her on Facebook here, and on Instagram here. If you would like to buy one of her books, you can find them here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by style expert and consultant, Sarah Gray. Sarah shares details of her journey to confidence, explaining how problems with her skin as a child left her feeling as if she didn’t want to be seen. She explains how this has helped her sympathise with the people she works with today, and how she uses her own experiences to help support others.  She talks about the reasons why she loves working with other business owners and how she helps them to combat the fear of showing up. Bonny and Sarah discuss their thoughts on the importance of women in business having the support of other women in business, and they talk about how this has helped and opened new doors for them.  Sarah talks about how she discovered she needed to find a better work-life balance, and explains the changes she has made and things she has introduced into her life to help her manage the emotions that come with helping other people work through their own struggles.  She also gives her advice on being true to yourself, and shares her tips on building body confidence and learning to love the person you see in the mirror.  To find out more about Sarah Gray, head to her website here. You can also follow her on Facebook here and Instagram here.